Former Visiting Professor of Economics Don Carlson ’83 dropped out of the Democratic primary race for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District on Aug. 27 after a local news station reported that he made an advance toward a student while working at the College in 2019.
WPRI 12 first alleged on Aug. 23 that Carlson expressed romantic interest to a then-senior at the College in spring of 2019. The article said that a second student deemed Carlson’s actions toward the initial student inappropriate and informed College officials, who subsequently told Carlson he could not return to teach at the College.
Chief Communications Officer Jim Reische confirmed in an email to the Record that Carlson would not be welcome to return as a professor but declined to elaborate why, citing confidentiality concerns.
“The allegations are disturbing, and our thoughts go out to everyone affected,” Reische wrote. “While we’re not commenting on specific personnel matters, we want anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or unwanted attention at Williams to know that you can contact our Title IX office.”
Carlson worked at the College in the fall of 2017 and during the 2018–2019 academic year, offering classes including “Principles of Microeconomics,” “Markets and Morals,” and “Law and Economics.” Carlson also taught Winter Study courses each year from 2014 through 2018. A little more than three decades earlier, he had earned his own B.A. in political economy at the College.
Carlson’s campaign initially issued a statement denying the accusations set forth by WPRI, asserting that he “never made an overture to a student.” The outlet that first broke the story later reported that Carlson and his representatives had also attempted to pressure the station not to release findings from their investigation into his conduct at the College, citing the absence of any formal findings of wrongdoing.
WPRI published a follow-up story on Aug. 24, specifying that Carlson “suggested a relationship modeled on a website where people can pay to go on dates.” Carlson also indicated through texts that he would be willing to provide the student with $5,000 to assist the student financially, it stated.
Carlson posted a YouTube video the next day in which he admitted that he and a graduating senior at the College once had an “an awkward conversation.”
“He was describing a dating website to me, and I somehow misinterpreted the description as a suggestion of a different relationship after graduation,” Carlson said in the video. “I was wrong about that. He gently corrected me, and I apologized profusely. He accepted my apology and said nothing had changed about our friendship.”
Carlson and the student shared common interests, Carlson continued, and had developed a plan to start a geothermal company together on the West Coast after the student graduated. Carlson offered the student $5,000 in seed capital if he chose to pursue that plan, but the student did not, and “no cash changed hands,” Carlson said.
“The bottom line is that I never had any romantic relationship with that man or with any student, present or former, at any institution with which I’ve been affiliated,” Carlson said. He concluded that he would “like to get back to the issues that matter so much to the people of the state we love.”
Two days later, he dropped out of the congressional race.
“This was my first time running for elective office,” Carlson wrote in a public statement. “I was prepared for the high level of scrutiny and nonstop challenges to my positions and character. But this race has brought extraordinary stress on my family and close friends as well. That very high personal cost is more than I’m willing to pay for the honor of public service.”
Carlson has since also resigned from his role as executive director of Yale Law School’s Tsai Leadership Program, from which he had already been on a leave of absence since July 1 due to his congressional campaigning.
Before Carlson dropped out, polls indicated he was trailing his opponents in the race, even though he was better-funded than any other candidate. Carlson spent $703,866 on the race, at least $600,000 of which was his own money, according to reporting by The Boston Globe.
Candidate Gabe Amo won the Democratic primary last week, positioning him to become the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress.
In an email to the Record, Carlson emphasized that he has never had a romantic relationship with a student, present or former. “Nor has any student ever filed a complaint against me for such conduct toward them,” he wrote.
Toya Camacho, the College’s Title IX coordinator, explained to the Record that when the College receives a report of sexual misconduct, she contacts whomever the report claims experienced sexual misconduct to discuss the process of filing a formal complaint and the availability of supportive measures.
A formal complaint must be filed in order to initiate a Title IX investigation. Supportive measures, however, including modifications to work or class schedules, leaves of absence, increased security of certain areas on campus, and mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, are available to involved parties, even when a formal investigation is not opened, Camacho said.
“I really do want to stress that it is important for somebody who’s had this experience — or who has had knowledge of an experience — to be aware of the processes that are available to them,” Reische said. “If they are comfortable, we really want them to come forward in a way that feels safe and appropriate to them.”
